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Our Today had the privilege of travelling to St Lucia to attend the last five nights of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival from 8th-12th May, courtesy of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) and InterCaribbean Airways.

The Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival is a major annual event that has showcased local and international artistes for the past 30 years. The five nights, each featuring a different genre were the gospel-themed Kingdom Night, the jazz-themed Pure Jazz, the reggae and soca-themed Caribbean Fusion, the Pop-themed World Beats and the finale, Ultimate Expression.

Thanks to InterCaribbean, I travelled to Barbados on the morning of 8th May. After a 45-minute layover, I boarded a Twin Otter aircraft and continued my journey to the George F.L. Charles airport in Castries, the capital of St Lucia.

Since 6th February, InterCaribbean Airways has addressed a major connectivity issue between Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean, removing the need for overnight stays in Miami, Trinidad, or Antigua.

Upon arrival, I swiftly cleared immigration and exited the airport within 25 minutes, having completed the immigration form online in advance.

As I left the departure lounge, I could see Vigie Beach in the background. A driver, arranged by the SLTA, then transported me to my hotel.

Kingdom Night

Upon reaching the hotel, I quickly got acquainted with my room and prepared for the 30-minute drive to the Pigeon Island National Landmark in Gros-Islet for Kingdom Night of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival.

Kingdom Night was a gospel-themed event featuring local groups and acts such as Tabitha C Prospere, Nigela St. Clair-Daniel, and Jamaican performers Carlene Davis and Marvia Providence.

Davis and Providence elevated the crowd with their musical prowess. At 71, Carlene Davis captivated the audience with her soul-stirring performance.

READ: HIGHLIGHTS | St Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival 2024 Kingdom Night

Check out the video from Carlene Davis’ performance below:

To avoid the post-event traffic, the SLTA chartered a water taxi via Knotty Girl Boat Tours for media representatives from various countries. We travelled to the Pointe Seraphine port in Castries Harbour and then took a chartered taxi back to our hotel.

The Castries Harbour’s deep waters allow large cruise vessels to approach close to the shore.

Poems From Saint Lucia

On the morning of Thursday, 9th May, we visited St Lucian artist Llewellyn Xavier’s art exhibit, titled Poems From Saint Lucia, at the Orange Grove Plaza in Gros-Islet.

Xavier’s most notable work was a large cycle of collages created around 1993, titled Global Council for Restoration of the Earth’s Environment. The collages incorporate recycled materials including naturalist prints from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and postage stamps from many countries. They also include signatures of various world leaders of environmentalism and several conservationists.

The Poems From Saint Lucia art exhibit took inspiration from the 1993 masterpiece and showcased 500 pieces that utilised recycled materials dating back to the eighteenth century. The pieces also included pictures of St Lucia’s natural beauty and the names of 500 historic local families.

From what I could gather, the exhibit told a powerful story about how rich St Lucia’s history is and how intertwined it is with the people and the environment and thus should be protected.

The art exhibit ran from 4th – 13th May, with all pieces available for purchase.

Pure Jazz: Ladies in Concert

In the evening, transportation took us to Rodney Bay for the Pure Jazz: Ladies in Concert night of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival.

The event featured four female jazz specialists, including debut performances by Christa Bailey and Shannon Pinel. The headline act was three-time Grammy-award-winning songstress Samara Joy, making her Caribbean debut.

Trinidadian Vaughnette Bigford delivered “jazzified” renditions of local tracks, including Teddyson John’s Allez. As someone new to the genre, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Bigford’s interpretations of popular songs in jazz style were a delightful experience.

Everything changed when Samara Joy took the mic. Her ability to transform her voice into a versatile instrument was captivating. Joy’s sultry performance was mesmerising, and she shared how much she enjoyed her time in St Lucia. She looks forward to visiting other Caribbean territories and hopes to perform in Jamaica soon. She also revealed she has new music coming out later this year.

READ: WATCH | Samara Joy stuns at Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival

ATV riding with Coastal Living ATV Tours

Friday morning was dedicated to fun with a two-hour ATV adventure from the hilly terrain of Beausejour to Cas-en-Bas beach. The tour offered thrilling rides and scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Caribbean Fusion

The third night, Caribbean Fusion, was a melting pot of Caribbean music. Local artists, including Ezra D’Funmachine, who brought reigning St Lucian Soca Monarch Imran Nerdy and fan favourite Blackboy to the stage, delivered energetic performances.

Caribbean Fusion also featured performances by Jamaican reggae crooner Beres Hammond and was headlined by Trinidadian Machel Montano.

Jamaican reggae crooner Beres Hammond and Trinidadian Machel Montano also performed. Beres, at 68, captivated the crowd with his classic hits. Montano, who took the stage at midnight, electrified the audience with a mix of his hits, even incorporating reggae and zouk.

READ: WATCH | Machel Montano performs reggae medley at Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival

World Beats

The fourth night, headlined by Davido, featured international performers Chloe Bailey and JoeBoy. Chloe Bailey captured the hearts of the St Lucian crowd, expressing her love for the country and its people. She called St Lucia her second home and revealed plans to continue spending time there with her family. Her upcoming album, Trouble in Paradise, is inspired by her positive experiences in St Lucia.

It was touching to see Chloe, a young artist, feel loved and at peace thanks to her experiences in the country.

Check out this video from her performance below:

The Ultimate Celebration

The final night of the St Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival, dubbed The Ultimate Celebration, offered fans a nostalgic experience with headliners Air Supply, celebrating their 49th anniversary as a duo. Dominican songstress Michele Henderson also delivered a soul-stirring performance during her first visit to St Lucia.

The Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival was a vibrant celebration of music, art, and culture, leaving a lasting impression of St Lucia’s rich heritage and warm hospitality.